philmayfield 6,134 Posted September 11, 2020 Report Share Posted September 11, 2020 See what I mean! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cliff Ton 10,466 Posted September 11, 2020 Report Share Posted September 11, 2020 I suppose with pizzas - as with many other things - it comes down to “you don’t miss what you don’t know”. I’m happy to eat run of the mill Nottingham pizzas (from time to time) because I’ve never had a high-end upmarket pizza of the standard Nonna is talking about. If I was to encounter one of them I’d probably be gobsmacked at how much better it was and I’d realise what i’d been missing. But as it is, I don’t mind the occasional Aldi/Morrisons/Sainsbury/takeaway pizza of the standard to which I’ve become accustomed. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
philmayfield 6,134 Posted September 11, 2020 Report Share Posted September 11, 2020 In my extensive experience Italian cuisine is the best in Europe. It’s only the ‘pretend’ Italian in this country which is not so good. When Alex and Brenda had restaurants in Notts their cooking was the genuine article. So sorry they moved! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Brew 5,417 Posted September 11, 2020 Report Share Posted September 11, 2020 Err... I don't like Italian food.... ... sorry... 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jill Sparrow 10,305 Posted September 11, 2020 Report Share Posted September 11, 2020 Some of the wine's not bad but, given the option, I go for Aussie, Argentinean, Chilean or South African, in that order. Red, of course. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Brew 5,417 Posted September 11, 2020 Report Share Posted September 11, 2020 Dearly beloved agrees, Hardys No1, Jacobs Creek No2... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
philmayfield 6,134 Posted September 11, 2020 Report Share Posted September 11, 2020 It's funny how French wine has gone out of fashion. The quality depended on the weather of the year and became overpriced. Other countries with more stable weather conditions managed to achieve consistency of quality although their wineries were often started by the French on their own rootstock. There are still some very good Italian wines; try Villa Antinori if you can find it. Spanish wine used to be real gut rot stuff but has much improved. The Germans have some very good whites but tend to keep the best for themselves! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Brew 5,417 Posted September 11, 2020 Report Share Posted September 11, 2020 Austrian wine was very drinkable in winter so I'm told.. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jill Sparrow 10,305 Posted September 11, 2020 Report Share Posted September 11, 2020 Never buy supermarket wine nowadays. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
philmayfield 6,134 Posted September 11, 2020 Report Share Posted September 11, 2020 I’ve started buying from Virgin wines when Laithwaites deliveries became haphazard. Both have some excellent selections. I like to take pot luck and try various red and white assortments. It’s always interesting opening a new bottle. There is a local merchant in Southwell who would deliver for free. ‘Mr and Mrs Fine Wines’ but I’ve yet to give them a try. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
siddha 825 Posted September 11, 2020 Report Share Posted September 11, 2020 Wine Society, Fattoria La Vialla , and Vineyard Direct do the biz for me Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DJ360 6,730 Posted September 11, 2020 Report Share Posted September 11, 2020 I'm glad I'm not the only one using Fattoria La Vialla. though I have to say the las lot wasn't brilliant. Virgin is OK.. but expensive. They were handy during the worst of lockdown.. but I'm backing away a bit now. I can get six bottles or perfectly acceptable,, though not exactly stratospheric Yellow Tail Merlot for 36 quid nearby. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Oztalgian 3,292 Posted September 12, 2020 Report Share Posted September 12, 2020 Interesting DJ360, a 6 bottle case would set you back 25 pound 61 pence equivalent here. Quite often you can get Australian wine cheaper in the UK than we can get it here but not this one. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
nonnaB 4,895 Posted September 12, 2020 Report Share Posted September 12, 2020 16 hours ago, Brew said: Err... I don't like Italian food.... ... sorry... Brew, a few years ago, in fact lots more than a few, my husband insisted he didn't like Greek food. He said it was too heavy in cheap olive oil. We had the opportunity to visit / work in Greece when after coming here and "retiring" and he helped a nephew who had a tyre firm and offered my husband an administrator s job. He quickly learned the ropes and started to sell throughout Europe, including Greece. He was dreading having to go out to dine with his clients but he came back home so enthusiastic, he loved the food. These clients have remained friends ever since. Some are in UK who regularly contact him and keep us updated with their families. So that's the story of someone who didn't like Greek food. He gave the reason why he didn't like Greek food but as a matter of interest, why don't you like Italian food? Some reasons I've heard are "full of garlic" ( not true) "pasta, pasta, pasta ( you can eat it with anything) I'm not being patriotic to Italy but just wondered what your view was on Italian food or any other foreign food. That would make a good topic in my opinion. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
philmayfield 6,134 Posted September 12, 2020 Report Share Posted September 12, 2020 Having inferred yesterday that Spanish wines can be indifferent, I opened a bottle yesterday from my latest Virgin assortment and was most impressed with a Tempranillo. Las Campanitas. Rich, full bodied and fruity- an excellent accompaniment to my steak and kidney pie! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jonab 1,644 Posted September 12, 2020 Report Share Posted September 12, 2020 Staff at the company I worked for here used to (probably still do) organise coach trips to Spain to buy wine. There were about ten people on the trip on a coach large enough to seat at least sixty. It would go out to Spain on Friday evening almost empty and return Sunday with almost no space to even breathe. This practise was (is) hugely frowned upon by the border patrols but, being EU, there was nothing they could do about it. I'm not much of a drinker but I must say that Spanish wine now is infinitely better than the old Hirondelle that use to be shoved at us at 60s parties. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
philmayfield 6,134 Posted September 12, 2020 Report Share Posted September 12, 2020 Yes, that’s the stuff I remember. Put me off Spanish wine for life but the selections you get from the specialist suppliers over here are usually very good and I do like to try new varieties. The French wine I used to enjoy was Pommard. I think it’s pretty expensive now. A friend of my fathers was Lou Orme, the MD of Ormes of Bakewell. They had a splendid grocer’s and wine merchants in the centre of the town, opposite the Rutland Arms. They imported mainly from France and had their own bottle labels. Pommard was a regular in the cases he used to get at very preferential prices. I didn’t really think there was any other wine but French that was worthy of drinking for many years. Now I rarely buy French wine at all. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Brew 5,417 Posted September 12, 2020 Report Share Posted September 12, 2020 There are many foods I don't like nonna and I have said before Greek food in Cyprus was the foulest thing I've willingly put in my mouth. Conversly one of the best steaks ever was in an Italian restaurant in Aya Napa (done the way I asked). What don't I like about food? soo many things... I have a problem with cheese which is a PITA. I can't abide sauces on food except HP if the bacon is not up to much. The texture of pasta makes me queasy... the list goes on. My family call me names and it drives herself to distraction but I like plain food. Meat n 2 veg, lovely, egg n chips, great. Full english, grand... I often hear "go on you've never tried it"... actually I have. Why do Mediterraneans have this obsession the sprinkling green bits on meat?, it's a bugger to scrape of. Why do waiters get all snotty when you say no herbs or spices please? I am probaly the easiest of all to cook for, quite why so many see it as some sort of challenge or insult I don't know. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
philmayfield 6,134 Posted September 12, 2020 Report Share Posted September 12, 2020 I’ll eat anything except eggs, boiled, fried or omeletted. I just don’t fancy them. Give me a plate of snails, frog’s legs or a Big Mac meal and I’m happy. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jonab 1,644 Posted September 12, 2020 Report Share Posted September 12, 2020 I will eat (or at least try) most things - provided that I know they are edible and I have seen someone else eat them with enjoyment and without ill effect. I do draw the line at rat, though and I did try fox once but it reminded me too much of my dogs so that was a no-no. Living in the wilds (as I do) there is plenty of opportunity sample lots of oddities, especially mushrooms and wild game and when I was able to walk, I would go on field trips with the locals and we would cook our catch, whatever was edible that trip Most likely not on that same day - as is known, lots (most) of meat requires a period of hanging before it is remotely edible. Because of that, we normally made sure that as well as guns, a few fishing rods went with us. Alpine rivers and streams provied some of the most delicious fish 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
philmayfield 6,134 Posted September 12, 2020 Report Share Posted September 12, 2020 I like mushrooms but you've got to be able to identify them correctly. The self proclaimed mushroom expert on our lane was carried off in the back of an ambulance! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
philmayfield 6,134 Posted September 12, 2020 Report Share Posted September 12, 2020 We're awaiting an imminent food delivery from Waitrose. We normally use Morrisons but Waitrose had a slot so we're giving them a try. I've washed the cars, mowed the front lawn and tidied the borders and we're sitting here in our best clothes ready to accept the delivery! 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
katyjay 5,091 Posted September 12, 2020 Report Share Posted September 12, 2020 I bet it won't be a clapped out old junker they deliver in! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jonab 1,644 Posted September 12, 2020 Report Share Posted September 12, 2020 All pharmacies, hospitals and police premises in France have a mushroom identification poster on display. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
philmayfield 6,134 Posted September 12, 2020 Report Share Posted September 12, 2020 I'm hoping for a Range Rover towing a trailer! Its just arrived and its a lady in a Mercedes van! 2 posh young ladies actually! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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